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Joint  resolutio 
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JOINT  RESOLUTION 

RBIiATI¥B     °3?    Q>     O    C>    313    :FS_    O    X    O    3XT. 


Be  it  Resolved  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  Texas, 

That  in  view  of  the  exigencies  of  the  times,  we  deem  it  proper  to  declare,  thai  when  the  sovereign 
States  of  this  Confederacy  entered  into  the  compact  of  the  Union,  they  delegated  to  the  Federal 
Government  no  power  to  compel,  by  force  of  arms,  obedience  by  the  Stales  to  the  Federal  authority  ; 
hut  on  the  contrary,  such  power  was  expressly  denied.  That  the  employment,  therefore,  of  force 
by  the  Federal  Government  to  compel  i  ny  State  of  this  Union  to  perform  its  obligations  under 
the  Federal  compact.orto  compel  a  State  against  the  will  of  it>  people  to  remain  a  member  of  the(  !on- 
federacy,  is  in  violation  of  the  Constitution,  a  dangerous  usurpation  of  power,  destructive  of  the  right 
ot'  free  government  and  fatal  to  the  existence  of  the  Union  itself,  which  formed  of  equal  and  inde- 
pendent sovereignties  cannot  be  as  between  conquering  States  and  subjugated  provinces.  That 
should,  (as  wo  have  serious  rea  son  to  apprehend  may  be  in  the  present  condition  of  the  Union,)  the 
Federal  Government  attempt  to  coerce  any  of  our  sister  States  of  the  South,  by  force  of  arms,  into 
Bubji  ction  to  Federal  rule,  we  assure  such  States  of  the  sympathies  of  our  people,  and  that  we  shall 
make  common  cau  o  with  them  in  resisting  by  all  means  and  to  the  last  extri  mity  such  unconstitu- 
tional violence  and  tyranical  usurpation  of  power. 

Passed  February  1,  A.  D.  18G1. 

II.  D.  K.  TAYLOR, 
Speaker  of  (he  House  of  Representatives 

EDWARD  CLARK, 

President  of  the  Senate 


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peonulife. 
PH8.5 


